Edinburgh to London flights 'cheaper than train to Glasgow'

TaplowGreen

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Edinburgh to London flights 'cheaper than train to Glasgow'

« on: December 20, 2024, 16:30:32 »

...........variation on the "plane cheaper than train" theme, but perhaps the most extreme one yet?

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/travel/news/edinburgh-to-london-flights-cheaper-than-train-to-glasgow-as-calls-made-for-reduction/ar-AA1wcQp9?ocid=socialshare


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ChrisB

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Re: Edinburgh to London flights 'cheaper than train to Glasgow'

« Reply #1 on: December 20, 2024, 16:34:52 »

City centre to city centres though?! Apples and pears


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rogerw

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Re: Edinburgh to London flights 'cheaper than train to Glasgow'

« Reply #2 on: December 20, 2024, 16:52:49 »

Also, is the flight fare a peak time last minute fare? Probably not.


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TaplowGreen

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Re: Edinburgh to London flights 'cheaper than train to Glasgow'

« Reply #3 on: December 20, 2024, 17:17:01 »

Quote from: ChrisB on December 20, 2024, 16:34:52

City centre to city centres though?! Apples and pears

London Stansted Parkway Wink


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eightonedee

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Re: Edinburgh to London flights 'cheaper than train to Glasgow'

« Reply #4 on: December 20, 2024, 19:02:25 »

Just done a little on-line research.

National Rail enquiries gives an off-peak return standard class train fare from any Edinburgh station to any Glasgow station as £16-20. To get a cheap day return on the tram from Edinburgh city centre zone to the airport (seems the best deal) is £9-50, and cheapest Stanstead - Liverpool Street rail fare off-peak is £26-70.

Cheapest flights all seem to be to Stanstead or Luton, leaving at or before 7 am or after 18-45 from Edinburgh airport (so you've got to get there first and check in - say an hour earlier)

So - £16-20 by train Edinburgh - Glasgow, at least £66-18 by plane/train/tram Edinburgh - London, plus inconvenience of a very early start or getting there after business hours so needing overnight accommodation as well if you take an afternoon/evening flight.

That tram begins to look expensive!


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TaplowGreen

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Re: Edinburgh to London flights 'cheaper than train to Glasgow'

« Reply #5 on: December 21, 2024, 06:34:55 »

Quote from: eightonedee on December 20, 2024, 19:02:25

The article is specifically drawing a comparison between peak time rail fares and flights, not off peak.


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Electric train

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Re: Edinburgh to London flights 'cheaper than train to Glasgow'

« Reply #6 on: December 21, 2024, 09:28:14 »

Airline flight prices are not "regulated" off-peak returns on long-distance rail routes such as the Edinburgh - London are "regulated"

By Regulated the DfT^» set the fare


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TaplowGreen

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Re: Edinburgh to London flights 'cheaper than train to Glasgow'

« Reply #7 on: December 21, 2024, 09:47:49 »

Quote from: Electric train on December 21, 2024, 09:28:14

Airline flight prices are not "regulated" off-peak returns on long-distance rail routes such as the Edinburgh - London are "regulated"

By Regulated the DfT^» set the fare

No-one is suggesting otherwise, and it's not about long distance rail travel - for clarity, and perhaps for those who haven't fully read the article, here is the summary of the findings, verbatim;

Research by Scottish Labour found a return flight from Edinburgh to London Stansted could cost as little as £29.98 - less than the £31.40 price of a peak-time ScotRail ticket between Glasgow and Edinburgh. The party also said it was either the same price or cheaper to book one-way flights to locations such as Dublin and Belfast than it was to buy a one-way peak fare from Edinburgh to Glasgow.


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grahame

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Re: Edinburgh to London flights 'cheaper than train to Glasgow'

« Reply #8 on: December 21, 2024, 10:45:15 »

Quote from: TaplowGreen on December 21, 2024, 09:47:49

Research by Scottish Labour found a return flight from Edinburgh to London Stansted could cost as little as £29.98 - less than the £31.40 price of a peak-time ScotRail ticket between Glasgow and Edinburgh.

As they clearly state in that text, a poor comparison is being made. Comparing radically different products, with the lowest possible cost of one of them compared to the highest possible cost of the other!

When I go to the online booking engines for the next few days ... and you will note I have only single fares here Edinburgh to Stansted. As I write, the lowest cost single airline flight southward is 10th January 2025 at £14.99 Edit to add with luggage to add £29.98 or £39.48 (single) for "essentials" or "standard plus". If you don't someehere from £6.40 to £18.99 so select a seat (yes, there is a skip button). There are four days available in the following week for you to return at the £14.99 fare.


« Last Edit: December 21, 2024, 16:41:55 by grahame »	Logged

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IndustryInsider

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Re: Edinburgh to London flights 'cheaper than train to Glasgow'

« Reply #9 on: December 21, 2024, 13:55:36 »

A 63% market share for rail on the Edinburgh to London route has no doubt forced the airlines down the cheap as chips route.

https://www.railtech.com/all/2023/07/03/edinburgh-london-route-shows-europe-the-way-for-modal-shift/?gdpr=accept


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